Objective

The objective of this lesson is to introduce basic arithmetic concepts using a horse theme, allowing the student to practice counting, addition, and subtraction skills.

Materials and Prep

• Toy horses or horse pictures
• Counting objects (e.g., small rocks, buttons, or coins)
• Paper and pencils

Activities

1. Counting Horses:

   Show the student the toy horses or horse pictures. Ask them to count how many horses there are and write down the number.

2. Addition Trot:

   Place a certain number of counting objects in front of the student. Ask them to add a specific number of horses to the group and count the total number of objects. For example, "If there are 3 rocks and we add 2 horses, how many objects do we have in total?"

3. Subtraction Gallop:

   Start with a certain number of counting objects. Ask the student to imagine that some horses galloped away. They should subtract a specific number of horses from the group and count the remaining objects. For example, "If there are 5 rocks and 3 horses galloped away, how many objects are left?"

Australia: Foundation (Kindergarten/Prep/Reception) Talking Points

• "In Australia, horses are important animals. They are used for transportation, farming, and even in sports like horse racing."
• "Counting is a skill we use every day. Today, we will practice counting using horses."
• "Adding means combining numbers. We can add horses to a group and count how many there are in total."
• "Subtracting means taking away. We can imagine horses galloping away and subtract them from a group to find out how many are left."
• "Let's have fun with horses while learning arithmetic!"